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| "The Joker Goes to School" | |
|---|---|
| Batman episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 15 |
| Directed by | Murray Golden |
| Written by | Lorenzo Semple Jr. |
| Production code | 8715-Pt. 1 |
| Original air date | March 2, 1966 |
| Guest appearances | |
| Donna Loren Kip King Greg Benedict Bryan O'Byrne Tim O'Kelly Cherie Foster Linda Harrison Sydney Smith Glenn Allan Donna Di Martino Dick Bellis Joan Parker Breeland Rice Jim Henaghan Special Guest Villain: Cesar Romero as The Joker | |
"The Joker Goes to School", a first-season episode of the Batman television series, first aired on ABC March 2, 1966 as its 15th episode, with an encore telecast later occurring on August 10. It guest starred Cesar Romero as The Joker.
Lorenzo Semple Jr. gives a subtle backstory for the Joker: when Batman shows the Joker's mugshot to the kids, the Joker is wearing a normal suit, and there is a reference to him being a "master of disguise", leading one to believe this version wears clown makeup (not unlike Heath Ledger's version in The Dark Knight), instead of having his skin discolored by chemicals (as was the original comics character and the Jack Nicholson version in Tim Burton's 1989 film).
In November 1965, Semple concocted a new villain named The One-Armed Bandit, "whose peculiar kick is gimmicked coin machines of all sorts". The idea ultimately wound up in these episodes with Joker in charge of The One Armed Bandit Novelty Company and vending machines that churned out silver dollars, quarters, answer sheets to exams, and knockout gas.
The Joker originally was scheduled to be the first villain to appear, but a scheduling conflict prevented Cesar Romero from appearing on the debut episode.